Only 350 kilometers are from Warsaw to Wroclaw. It takes 45 minutes to get to Wroclaw by plane. When I was looking from the plane, I was astonished, the whole city was hidden in the forest! I have seen such planting of greenery only in Amsterdam and Copenhagen… White Wroclaw stadium is located in this planting of greenery. Having seen this stadium, I thought – Well done, Wroclaw citizens – when suddenly, we were taken to visit “Slask” stadium which contains 40 000 spectators…
Russians came the first at the press conference. Roman Shirokov of “Zenit” came after head coach Dick Advocaat who is called Napoleon by the Russian media… Generally, Russians are known for their isolation but when Advocaat became their head coach, it has been improved – they hold press conferences every day and they faithfully fulfill resolution of UEFA. Ukrainian journalist asked him at the press conference – How did it come that you do not have problem with media? Advocaat answered – Then why are we here? In short, Dutch coach seems a good man. He stated that they had come to win and get pleasure. He believes in his boys and in spite of that, Czechs have mobile midfield, he is not afraid of anything. Journalist told him that he thought Russians were outsiders… Advocaat answered that he said Russians were outsiders among favorites not in the group.
Practicing was held with attendance of 200 journalists. After 15 minutes, we asked the media to leave stadium and tribunes. It is difficult to ask colleagues to leave the stadium but it is rule! I was acting with great energy. Famous photographer Sergei Kivrin who is in love with Georgia took some pictures of me and sent them to worldsport.ge. It was interesting that the photographers were allowed to work only at the practicing. They were not allowed to the press conference or mixed zone – it is rule of Euro-2012. Their number was up to 90. After the practicing, football players entered the mixed zone and Russian journalists took interviews from them. I helped boys from RTR and let them meet Izmailov and Zirianov. I am disappointed that Alan Dzagoev who was born and grown up in Georgia is playing for the Russian team at Euro-2012.
Tomas Rosicky (he is the only football player who is in the fifth place with 5 goals among top scorers at European Championship and he has a chance to overtake first-placed Platini (9 goals) attended press conference of Czech national team with coaches. It is disappointing to remember that in 1998, our U-18 team of Vakhtang Kopaleishvili beat Czechs headed by Rosicky and Baros. After winning 2-1 in Batumi, ours made through the final stage and Valeri Gogua became top scorer of the tournament in Sweden – he scored goal against Iker Casillas!!! Davit Dighmelashvili played against Rosicky. He was considered as a future star. After one year of the Batumi match, “Borussia” Dortmund bought Tomas Rosicky with 25 million. “Liverpool” bought Baros with 25 million. That generation of Georgians could not play abroad. Only Khizanishvili plays for “Kayserispor”…
I love Czech national team because Jaroslav Dudl has been working as a technical director Czech Football Federation more than 15 years. He is in love with Georgia. You cannot believe but the Soviet Union collapsed 20 years ago and Jaroslav still drinks Georgian tea with his wife… After the practicing, Jaroslav invited me to his place. Czechs hired “Monopol” hotel in the center of the city. We talked for a long time. He told me about Czech football – Czech Republic has 300 000 football players (Georgia has only 20 000!!!). So, it is not surprising that this national team always participates in World or European Championships. Its players play for great clubs.
UEFA media-officer Mamuka Kvaratskhelia specially for worldsport.ge from Wroclaw
